Readers React: Much ado about a downtown bridge

I agree with Steve Lopez that developer Geoff Palmer’s faux Italianate apartment buildings in downtown L.A. are hideous. But they’re historically not out of place in Los Angeles. (“High-density housing doesn’t have to lack a grand design,” Column, May 20)

The city has a long history of ridiculous “themed architecture” — countless faux French, faux Tudor, faux Asian, faux fill-in-the-blank buildings; restaurants in the shapes of giant doughnuts, hot dogs and top hats; and, more recently, faux urban “Main Streets” like at the Grove.

I also remember what was in most of the areas where Palmer’s apartments now sit: urban desolation. Whatever my view of these buildings’ aesthetics, they have brought residents, and life, downtown.

It does not seem unreasonable for a resident of a large apartment complex to expect to remain physically in that complex when walking from one end to the other, even if it does cross a city street. If that is elitist, why don’t we simply outlaw all security buildings in the city?

Garth Steever

Santa Ana

Lopez has fallen into that old trap: He’s hating the player when he should be hating the game.

Palmer isn’t doing anything wrong; he’s doing everything totally right:

Don’t avoid problems; use innovation to solve the ones you perpetually create. Don’t think about the public good; maximize what’s best for you. Come up against a problem? Don’t fix it, build a bridge over it.

The issue isn’t Palmer, it’s capitalism.

Christopher Farrish

Los Angeles